RVRC Symposium 2026, themed “Living and Learning for a Shared Future,” was held on 7 February 2026. This annual, student-led symposium showcased exemplary student projects and the rich diversity of co-curricular activities at the College. It also provided a platform to the 185 attendees for meaningful networking, reflection, and shared learning, while highlighting RVRC’s twin integrated themes of sustainability and workplace readiness.
Symposium Chairs Bai Zirui and Jeong Youngkyu shared how the theme reflects RVRC’s continued commitment to experiential learning and extending the world as a classroom. They explored how this approach empowers students to address complex social and environmental sustainability challenges by collaborating with community stakeholders and translating innovative ideas into meaningful action. They also highlighted RVRC’s emphasis on sustainability and workplace readiness as twin pillars for building a shared future that equips students with the skills, perspectives, and adaptability to thrive across diverse professional environments, while contributing to a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable world.
In his opening address, Associate Professor Sim Tick Ngee (RVRC College Master) reflected on our next potential milestone, as the College moves forward into its second decade. He introduced the newly launched Sustainability Internships, which is an initiative that strengthens the College’s mission through close collaboration with industry and institutional partners, and supports students in gaining meaningful experience in translating ideas into reality.
The keynote address by Mr Sean Lam - Founder and CEO of EcoWorks, began with him acknowledging the intractable challenges of implementing sustainability solutions at scale. Referencing Dr Carol Dweck’s concept of a “growth mindset,” he shared how sustainability efforts often require a longer runway to achieve real impact. His reflections on the vision and growth of EcoWorks refill stations highlighted unique, still-untapped opportunities within the Singapore ecosystem that offer potential for aspiring entrepreneurs to test and scale innovative solutions. Ecoworks is one of the companies who have offered internships for RVRC students.
The symposium programme featured two concurrent thematic threads: “Edu-venture” and “Adventure.” Thread Highlight presenters Nabil Asfar Shahrin and Phan Nguyen Phuc An shared deeply reflective and inspiring journeys describing how they have developed diverse capabilities, pursued meaningful growth opportunities, and implemented novel ideas during their time at the College. In line with the symposium theme, several student presenters later explained how RVRC’s tight-knit and caring community enabled them to cultivate a strong sense of stewardship towards the society and the environment. To wrap up the event, symposium awards were presented in four categories by RVRC’s Rector Dr. Noeleen Heyzer.
The college thanks the RVRC Symposium 2026 Student Organising Committee members Jeong Youngkyu, Bai Zirui, Yeo Jaye Lin, Lisa Lim Yu Qi, Zhuang Ying'En Shanice, Tan Hewie, and Eliza Lim Siew Ping for leading the planning of this event, along with staff advisors Mr Desmond Ng, Dr Kelvin Lee, and Ms Hafsah Begum.
The college also acknowledges the hard work by the RVRC Dining Hall Team who were the caterers for the event, along with all the behind the scenes support given by RVRC student helpers, volunteers, as well as the housekeeping staff. Every collaboration and team effort helped made the event possible.
